Can a Chernobyl type accident take place in Indian Nuclear Power Plants?
Nuclear power has a very good safety record for a period spanning more than three decades. The Three Mile Island (TMI) accident in March, 1979 and the Chernobyl accident in April, 1986 have raised apprehensions in the minds of the public all over the world. In the case of TMI, no radiation injury had occurred to any member of the Public. No radioactivity was released to the atmosphere. This reactor had containment building and the entire radioactivity was contained within the reactor building. At Chernobyl, 31 people died and they are all plant personnel. However, it must be recognized that the Chernobyl accident occurred due to the negligence of operators who violated the safety procedures. Besides, the Chernobyl reactor is a totally different type. It employed Graphite as a moderator. Graphite is a form of carbon and its combustible property contributed to explosion in the reactor core. Most of the radioactive material was released into the atmosphere because of absence of containmen
